Distributor for tobacco rod forming machines



Jan. 12, 1943. P. J. HERRMANN 2,308,227

DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOBACCO ROD FORM-ING MACHINES Filed March 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Shes?. l

Jan. 12, 1943. P.' J. HERRMANN 2,308,227

DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOBACCO ROD FORMING MACHINES -Filed March 13. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1943.

P. J. HERRMANN DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOBACCO ROD FORMING MACHINES Filed March 13, 1939 l 4 `Sl'xeets-Sheer. 3 8

Jan, 12, 1943.` P. J. HERMANN Y 2,308,227

` DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOBACCO RODFORMING MACHINES Filed March 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Pdzzlfaa/zref ier/"marzia Patented Jan. 12, 1943 DESTRIBUTOR FOR TOBACCO ROD FORMING MACHINES Application March 13, 1939, Serial No. 261,525 In Germany April 25, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to distributors for tobacco rod forming machines, and more particularly to a device to be used therewith for returning to the distributor any short tobacco which has separated from the tobacco supply of the distributor.

The object of the invention is to utilize short tobacco in the manufacture of tobacco cigarette rods.

For this purpose, the invention consists in the provision of means attached to or built as part of a cigarette tobacco supply and distributor, to receive the short tobacco and'convey it to the proper place to be guided with the tobacco to. a cigarette rod forming machine.

More particularly, the invention also consists in the novel means for conducting the short tobacco so that it may receive the same, and hold it without loss in the conducting thereof, until it is discharged at the proper place. 'Ihese novel means are in the form of interlocking and intermeshing cups forming .a continuous band, and the invention also consists in the control of the discharge of the tobaccco from these cups.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter, embodiments thereof shown in the drawings, and the invention willbe'finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing generally a known distributor with the improvement forming the present invention indicated indotted lines, which cooperate withV certain novel parts in full lines;

FigureA 2 is a similar section but partial and enlarged, showing 'the details of; the improved parts forming this invention', the section being taken on line 2-2of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,v seen in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a partial side view of the improved conveying means for thevshort tobacco;

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail of the cups forming the endless conveyer, and

Figure 7 is an enlargeddetail view in side elevation of one of the cups.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, the tobacco supply I is engaged by rotating cylinder 2- which has projections adapted to pick up and carry the tobacco supply I, and

to conduct it to the cylinder 3a also provided with projections, and rotating in the opposite direction, between which the tobacco drops with the aid of spiked wheel 2a, to the apron 3 and is conduct-ed thereby to the U-shaped cup 5i! forming the rst formation of 'a cigarette rod. A stamper 44 is disposed in the b-ight of the cylinders 2 and 3a. A toothed wheel or cylinder t3 cooperates with the stamper lll. These parts and their means for actuation are known and form no part of this invention per se.

At the bottom of the tobacco supply I, an apron 4 passing over the pulley 5 and idler/ 5a is provided, which moves the loose or short tobacco at the bottom of the supply I to funnell having inclined walls. Opposite to the pulley 5 a cylinder Shaving projections is placed which rotates in same direction to the movement of pulley 5,' and cooperating with the cylinder 2, serves to catch up longer tobacco passing over the pulley 5, and f deliver it to the cylinder 2 to be carried by cylinder 2 to cylinder 3a. Any short or loose tobacco not carried away by the cylinder 2, and carried along by cylinder B, drops into the funnel 1. A r0- tary brush 9 is provided below the belt or apron to brush oi any adhering tobacco and deliver it to the hopper 7. From the hopper l short tobacco drops into the cups 8. u Y

The cups 8 themselves form in eiiect anendless chain which extends around the distributor, as seen in Figure 3, and passes over thepairs of notched wheels 2I, 22, 23 and 24. Each cup 8 forms an integral part of the conveyor, and the cups are connected in the form of a chain, as described below by means of the hinge plates I2 and 'I 3 and the pin I I. Preferably, to prevent any air currents prevalent in the factory from blowing the loose or short tobacco out of the cups, guard members 25, 25 and 2l are provided which cover the cup-chain, laterally oi the distributor.

ALateral walls 2li, seen in Figure 2, serve theV same purpose. The cups 8 when at the bottom of the distributor, as seen in Figure 3, are open on top to receive the tobacco and moving in the dilrection of arrow 8d ascend to hold it, and discharge it at the top, coming down empty at the other side, as seen in Figure 3.

The cup-s 8 which aremade oi metal are preferably integral. Each cup 8 is provided with two vertically upstanding side walls I8, and between the Walls extends the bottom portion Iii. The forward ends of the cups 8 are open, as also are the tops which provide means for receiving and discharging the tobacco from the cups. The rear ends of the cups 8 are provided with a slanting rear wall I7 extending between the vertical side walls I8, and the cups are so disposed with respect to one another that the side walls of two adjacent cups overlap. Thus, the side walls I3 together with the rear wall I1 of one cup will project into the forward portion through the open front of the cup positioned directly behind the given one. Such a construction insures the prevention of any leakage of tobacco from between the cups.

To the bottom portion I6 of each cup 8 is riveted by means of rivets I3a in the front thereof the hinge plate |2 provided with the eye portion or socket i5, and at the rear of the bottom portion I 6 of each cup 8 is riveted a second hinge plate I3 provided with the socket I4, so that the sockets I4 and I5 of successive cups are adapted to intermesh and to receive the pin II to thereby connect adjacent cups 8 hingedly.

The top edges on the sides I8 of the cups 8 may be seen to be downwardly inclined in the direction of movement of the cup chain, or in other words toward the fronts of the cups 8. This, in effect, causes the inclined rear walls of the cups I1 and the rear portions of the side walls i8 to extend at a greater distance from the bottom portion IB of the cups 8, and to thereby form a pocket in the rear portion of the cup 8 and also to form an upstanding edge at the rear of each cup.

The pins II which carry the portions I4 and I5 of the hinge plates I2 and I3 extend outwardly beyond the sides I 8 of the cups 8 and so are adapted to engage the notches 20 of the pairs of discs 2|, 22, 23 and 24. The disc 2| is driven by means described below and thus motion is imparted to the entire chain.

When the cups 8, filled or partially filled with tobacco, arrive at the top of the distributor, they may either discharge their contents upon a plate 28 hinged at 29, o1' if that plate is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, then directly into the path of the tobacco coming from cylinder 2 and moving in the direction of cylinder 3a, being guided in its downward flow by an inclined wall 38. This wall 38 has an angular plate 39 provided with slots 40, through which thumb screws 4 I pass,

lwhereby the wall 39 may be adjusted in position.

The plate 28 is operated by a link connection moving it periodically. To the plate, at its hinge 29, is connected a curved link 30. in turn pivoted to a link bar 3|, in turn pivoted to a link 32, pivf oted to the frame of the machine at 33. The link 32 has a follower 34. A spring 35, having one end secured to the link 32, and the other to a bracket secured to the frame of the machine. causes the follower 34 to press against a cam 36 having a projection 37. Whenever the projection 3'! strikes the follower 34, the link connection is operated and the plate 28 is moved from horizontal full line position to inclined dotted line position as shown in the upper part of Figure 2. The loose or short tobacco descending as indicated along the wall 39, drops upon the wheel or cylinder 2. and being intermingled with the long tobacco, drops upon the apron 3.

The means for operating the various parts are the following:

The motor 5I drives a belt 52 passing over the pulley 53. as shown in Figure l.. This pulley 53 is on a shaft 54 to which a gear 55 is secured, which gear 55 meshes with the gear 55 on a shaft 51 to which another gear 58 is secured. This gear 58 meshes with the gear 59 on a shaft 59. The gear 59 meshes vdth the gear 6| on a shaft 62 to which a pulley 63 is also secured. and over this pulley passes the belt 3 in the direction of the arrow 84, which belt 3 also passes over a pulley 65 (Figure l), which pulley 65 is directly over the rod-forming device 50. To the shaft 62 a second pulley 66 is secured, over which a belt 01 passes, this belt 61 also passing over a pulley 68 to the shaft of which the cleaner 9 is also secured. Immediately above the cleaner 9 is an idler shaft 69 having an idler I0 thereon, which idler acts to bend the lower part of the conveyor 4 into a suitable position so as to enable the cleaner to work thereon and remove from the belt surface any adhering tobacco..

Referring again to the shaft 54, this also has secured thereto a beveled gear 'II engaging a beveled gear 'I2 on a vertical shaft 'I3 to which a worm 'I4 is secured. This worm '|4 meshes with a gear 'I5 on a shaft 16, to which shaft a sprocket TI is secured, over which sprocket 7l a chain drive 'I8 passes, which chain then passes over a sprocket 'I9 on a shaft 80, moving the shaft 80 in the direction of the arrow 8|, and the chain 'I3 also passes over a sprocket 82 on a shaft 83. By the action of the chain 'I8 the shaft 80 is rotated, as stated, in the direction of the arrow 8|, and the shaft 83 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 84. Upon the shaft 'I5 there is also secured another sprocket 85, over which a chain 86 passes and extends upwardly to pass over a sprocket 81 on a shaft 88, and to this shaft 88 the cylinder 3a is secured and is moved thereby.

Returning to the vertical shaft '13, at its uppermost end a beveled gear 89 is secured which meshes with the beveled gear 90 which is secured in turn to a shaft 9| to which a sprocket 92 is secured. A chain 93 passes over this sprocket 92 and over another sprocket 94 secured to shaft 95, and thereafter over a sprocket 96 which is secured to the shaft 97 to which the wheel or cylinder 43 is secured. By the action of the chain 93, the tamping mechanism 44 is operated by having the tamping feet 44 supported by an elbow lever 98 pivoted at 99 and forming part of a lever |09 to which a follower I0| is supported. To the shaft a cam |92 is secured, whereby upon the rotation of the shaft 95 the cam |02 on its rotation moves the idler IDI from the full line position shown in Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, and by such movement raises the tamping feet 44 upwardly. The chain 93 at the same time rotates the shaft 91, as stated, and this shaft has secured thereto a sprocket |03 engaged by a chain |94 which passes over a sprocket |05 secured to the shaft |06. To the shaft |06 is secured a bevel gear |01 engaging a bevel gear |08 on a shaft |09 which is supported by brackets IIO as shown in Figure 3, which brackets ||0 are suitably secured to the frame members of the machine. Thus, by the rotation of the shaft 91, the shaft |09 is rotated through the instrumentality of the parts described, and the shaft I 09 has secured thereto the notched discs 2| in a pair to have the notches engagethe rods I of the cupshaped links adapted to receive the loose tobacco. Thus, by the rotation of the shaft |09, as shown in Figure 3, a chain which is made up of these cupshaped links 8 is driven in the direction of the arrow 8a empty when moving in downward direction, and adapted to be lled when moving horizontally in the direction of the arrow 8a there shown, and in their filled or partially filled condition adapted to move upwardly in the direction of the arrow III until they again move horizontally, having passed over the discs 22 so as to discharge the contents upon the guide wall 25. The tobacco thus discharged from the inverted cups 8 onto the guide wall 25 is scraped fromY the guide wall 25 and deposited onto the plate. 28. This action occurs after it has accumulated. on. the guide wall 25 to a sullicient depth to cause the. eX- tending rear edges 8 of the cups 8 formed by the inclined side walls I8 and rear wall II, as above described, to Contact the tobacco thus deposited and to urge it toward the plate 28 as a result of the continuous movement of the conveyor chain.

By the rotation of the shaft 81, the shaft |06 is rotated, which shaft, as before stated, has placed thereon a cam 3`I which cooperates with afollower 34, whereby the linkage connections are moved, which in turn move the plate 28.

From the foregoing, it has been seen that after the loose or short tobacco Ahas been deposited into the cup-shaped link members 8, it is not subjected to any further breaking down, and substantially remains in this condition and is then brought into the run of theregular tobacco.

The cup-shaped devices 8 may be prismatic or semicylindrical in shape, but the important part is that the inclination of the walls I'I is such that a pocket is formed in the lower or rear end portions of the cups 8, as these members 8 ascend on the vertical leg or flight of the conveyor, which pocket is covered by the adjacent overlapping walls of the adjacentmembers, so that the tcbacco is contained therein. The walls I6, I'I and i 8 of the cup members 8 are preferably entirely integral with each other, and are so connected as to be substantially an integral member so as to have no slots or slits through which loose tobacco may pass. A tight fitting joint is made between the overlapping forward portions of the side walls A.

of one cup and the rear portions of the side walls I8 of the adjacent cup due to the bearing pressure of the resilient metal of which the cups 8 are made. So, for instance, the walls seen in Figure 4 overlap along the dotted line Il, and a scale-like formation is brought about having a hugging action so as to prevent any small particles from passing between the walls. In case the tobacco does not fall out of the containers 8 at the proper time, the inclined surface 42 shown in Figure 3 is provided upon which the tobacco can slide downwardly and be conducted towards the spiked roller 2.

The forwardly inclined rear walls I'I of the containers 8 form at 8 levelling means in the top row for spreading a uniform layer of the conveyed short tobacco when on the plate 28.

From the foregoing it is seen that the conveyor consists of the link pins I I which carry the hinge parts I2 and I3, that is the hinge parts I2 encircle the pins II with the sockets I5 and the hinge parts I3 with the sockets I4, with which sockets the hinge parts are preferably made from one piece. At the parts I2 and I3 which belong to different successive hinges, the bottom parts IE of the cups are firmly attached by means of riveting, screws or the like. In addition, the transverse walls I'I, arranged successively in the conveyor, and outer walls I8, are iirmly connected with these bottom walls I6. The cup space of each cup is therefore formed by its walls I5, I'I and I8, and wall II of the subsequent cup. The walls I'I are formed at a slant so that by vertical position of the bottom wall IE, the tobacco flows on the walls Il in the direction of the bottom wall I5. The walls I5, I'I, and I8 of each cup are connected with each other so that there are no slits. The side walls I8 of the cups arranged in series, lie scale-like above each other, whereby the outer parts adjust themselves against the inner parts flexibly. Between the parts` I2 and I3 and the oor parts I6, elastic intermediate layers I8 are provided, which layers completely cover up the hinge slits within the domain ofthe pins I I. The pins II extend on the sides of both sides of the cups 8. With these extending ends they come to lie in the space 28 of the conveyor wheels 2 I, 22, 23, 24 which rotate in the direction of the arrow. The driving may take place by either one or several of these chain wheels. In the embodiment, it starts by wheel 2 I In the conveyor drum between the wheels 23, 24, the cups 8 point their openings to the top so that the short tobacco arriving on the inclined walls of the chute l, which extends the length and breadth of the tobacco supply container, may slide into them. By constantly rotating the wheels 2| to 24, the cups 8 are first led over the wheel 23. Between this wheel and the conveyor wheel 22, the cups are approximately rotated at an angle of The inclination of the rear walls I'I of the cups 8 provide a pocket in each cup which serves to retain the tobacco in the cups during the vertical movement of the latter. Also, as may be seen in Figure 3, the ascending and descending flights of the conveyor formed by the cups are inclined outwardly from the bottom toward the top of the distributor, and such construction further serves to prevent accidental discharge of tobacco during the upward movement of the cups 8. Y

From the foregoing, it is also seen that the invention comprises a device for the return of short tobacco separated from the distributor, by which4 Ythe separated short tobacco is transported by an endless and running conveyor to the supply of the tobacco of the distributor in which a chute which has the length and breadth of the supply container to receive the separated tobacco, delivers the short tobacco to containers each for a small amount of tobacco, which are conducted to a place where their contents discharge into the main tobacco supply, at which place the containers are upset or have their openings in the downward direction.

I have described but one embodiment of my invention, but it will be clear that changes may be made within the principle of the invention described, without departing from the scope of the subjoined claims:

I claim:

l. In apparatus for feeding a mixture of long and short tobacco to a cigarette rod forming machine and wherein vshort tobacco separates from the long tobacco during the feeding operation; the improvement which consists in means for returning the separated short tobacco to the tobacco being fed, comprising an endless chain of containers movable transversely to the direction of movement of the tobacco being fed and having four runs including a substantially horizontal bottom run below the tobacco being fed, a substantially horizontal top run above the tobacco being fed, and spaced vertical side runs connecting the top and bottom runs on opposite sides of the tobacco being fed, said containers being arranged in an upright position in the bottom run and being inverted in the top run of the endless chain, each of said containers having a bottom wall, two side walls, and a forwardly inclined rear wall, the front and top of each container being open to form a mouth adapted to receive the separated short tobacco in the bottom run of the endless chain and to discharge said short tobacco in the top run of the chain, the forwardly inclined rear wall of each container preventing the short top run, a guard plate for one of the side runs of said endless chain partially extending below the top run, said guard plate extension adapted to receive short tobacco discharged from the inverted containers, a tiltable plate disposed beneath the top run of said endless chain contiguous with said guard plate extension, said forwardly inclined rear walls of the containers forming leveling means for the short tobacco discharged on said guard plate extension to spread the short tobacco onto said tiltable plate and thereby form a uniform layer of short tobacco on the latter, means for driving said endless chain substantially continuously, and means operatively connected to said driving means for periodically tilting said tiltable plate, whereby the uniform layer of short tobacco thereon is delivered to the fed tobacco.

2. In apparatus for feeding a mixture of long and short tobacco to a cigarette rod forming machine and wherein short tobacco separates from long tobacco during the feeding operation, the improvement which consists of means for returning the separated short tobacco to the tobacco being fed, comprising a plurality of containers each having a bottom, side walls, and an end wall, said end wall being formed by an upwardly and forwardly inclined bent portion of the rear eX- tremity of said bottom, means on opposite ends of the bottoms of said containers hingedly connecting said containers together to form an endless conveyor movable transversely to the direction of movement of the tobacco being fed, the front and top of each container being open, the

forward edges of the side walls of each container being upwardly and forwardly inclined in parallel relation to the end wall of the container, the free ends of the side walls of one container overlapping the rear portions of the side walls of the adjacent container, whereby a pocket is formed by the bottom, side walls and rear wall of one container, and the rear Wall of an adjacent container, said endless conveyor having four runs including a substantially horizontal bottom run below the tobacco being fed, a substantially horizontal top run above the tobacco being fed, and spaced vertical side runs connecting the top and bottom runs on opposite sides of the tobacco being fed, in the lbottom run, said containers being arranged in upright open position to receive the separated short tobacco from the tobacco being fed, and in the top run, said containers being inverted to discharge the conveyed short tobacco therefrom, the upwardly inclined rear wall of each container preventing the short tobacco from falling out during the upward travel of the endless conveyor from the bottom run to the top run, a plate beneath the top run of said endless conveyor adapted to receive the conveyed short tobacco, said forwardly inclined rear walls of the containers forming leveling means in the top run for spreading a uniform layer of the conveyed short tobacco onto said plate, means for driving said conveyor substantially continuously, and means operatively connected to said driving means for intermittently moving said plate to deliver the said uniform layer of short tobacco to the tobacco being fed.

PAUL JOHANNES HERRMANN. 

